Lasting machine



1949- B. JORGENSEN 2,479,574

LASTING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I n ven for Aug. 23, 1949. B. JORGENSEN LASTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed July 9, 1947 Invenfor Bernhardt Jorgensen 1949- B. JORGENSEN' 2,479,574

LASTING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inven for B. JORGENSEN LASTING MACHINE Aug. 23, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 9, 1947 18w HHIIIU H In 0 en for Bern/1 araz fore r25 en ooibw Q BE 3 3 m R;

E wkmnxi @ERQ MQ EE VR Es 0 E 03 Patented Aug. 23, 1949 LASTING MACHINE Bernhardt Jorgensen, Marblehea'd, Mass., .8-

signor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N J a corporation, of New Jersey Application July 9, 1941, Serial No. 759,849 43 Claims. (01. 12--10.5)

This invention relates to lasting machines, and is herein shown as applied to a toe-lasting machine constructed generally as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,377,887, granted on June 12, 1945, on an application of mine, its construction in some respects being more fully shown and described in Letters Patent No. 2,324,509, granted on July 20, 1943, on an earlier application of mine. It is to be understood, however, that in some aspects the invention is not limited to an organization of that particular character.

The above-mentioned machine is a fluid-operated machine having wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last and a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, the wipers and the toe former being moved heightwise of the last as a unit to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper. The wipers are supported by a wiper carrier movable by doubleacting fluid-pressure means to advance and retract them lengthwise of the last. In order to avoid any objectionable interference between the Wipers and the toe ends of shoes of some styles when the wipers are thus moved heightwise of the last, the machine is provided with a retaining device arranged to act on the wiper carrier to hold the wipers in abnormally retracted positions lengthwise of the last until near the end of their movement heightwise of the last and then to release them, whereupon the wiper carrier is moved by a spring a short distance lengthwise of the last to position the wipers in what may be termed a normal relation to the shoe. Such movement of the wiper carrier by the spring is necessarily accompanied by the exhaust of some operating fluid from the fluid-pressure means whereby it is retracted lengthwise of the last. Since it is also important to prevent the toe former, in operating on shoes of some styles, from engaging a shoe initially too far from the edge of the shoe bottom,

the toe former heretofore has been retracted lengthwise of the last by the movement or the wiper carrier and has been held in retracted position by the same retaining device. When released by that device simultaneously withthe wiper carrier, the toe former has been moved toward the toe by another spring, as permitted by the movement of the wiper carrier, to render it effective on the upper during the remainder of its movement heightwise of the last.

The present invention, in one aspect, provides improved means for controlling the toe former,

with the object of affording better insurance that upon its release it will be applied promptly in cffectlve wiping engagement with the upper. For the purpose in view, the construction herein shown is such that the toe former is released independently oi the release of the wiper carrier and when thus released is moved toward the toe by means unaffected by the position of the wiper carrier. The fluid-pressure means for retracting the wiper carrier accordingly can have no retarding effect on the movement of the toe former toward the toe. As further herein illustrated, the toe former is retracted by its own fluid-pressure means which also is ineffective to retard its movement toward the toe, such fluid-pressure means comprising a double-acting cylinder-and-piston device whereby also the pressure of the toe former on the upper is increased after the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last. The release of the toe former and of the wiper carrier independently permits an adjustment to vary relatively the times of such release, the adjustment being preferably such that the toe former is released earlier than the wiper carrier.

.The invention further provides novel means for otherwise controllingthe toe former, objects being both to provide a compact toe former unit and also to permit the toe former readily to adjust itself to a shoe. The toe former embraces the upper about the toe end of the last, and the construction shown is such that it may adjust itself to the shoe and last by swinging about an axis extending heightwise of the last, by moving bodily widthwise of the last with said axis, or by a combination of both such movements. More particularly, a support for the toe former, which is thus movable with it, is pivotally connected to a resiliently flexible rod extending lengthwise of the last and yieldable laterally, the support being movable against yielding resistance about its pivotal connection with the rod, 1. e., about the above-mentioned axis, or movable bodily widthwlse of the last against the resistance of the resilient rod. Provision is further afforded for portions of the toe former at the sides of the toe to be forced apart more or less by wedging action of the shoe thereon, these portions being pressed toward the shoe by spring-controlled levers which are connected together for equal movements and are movable bodily with the toe former support. It will be evident that features of the mechanism thus provided for controlling the toe former are likewise applicable to the control of conforming means at the heel end of a shoe.

During-the operation of the. machine the shoe is controlled by a member which engages it on the bottom of the forepart and against which it is clamped by a toe rest engaging it at the top of the forepart and also by an instep support engaging the instep portion of the shoe or last, a heel rest being further provided for engaging its heelend face to assist in supporting it against lengthwise movement. To insure against any displacement of the shoe by the instep support or the heel rest when they are applied to the shoe, the invention further provides a, construction such that the instep support is moved into operative position after the shoe is clamped by the toe rest but before it is engaged by the heel rest, the desired sequence of movements of the toe rest, the instep support and the heel rest resulting from the proper timing of the admission of operating fluid to cylinder-and-piston devices associated respectively with these different parts.

The novel features of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is mainly a plan view, with parts broken away, showing the wipers and the toe former and portions of their operating and controlling mechanisms;

Fig. 2 is a view in left-hand side elevation of a portion of the structure shown at the left-hand upper comer of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view mainly in section on the line IIII1I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in rear elevation and partly in section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 4 with the parts in different positions;

Fig. 6 is mainly a'plan view of the toe former and portions of its controlling mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view partly in plan and partly in section on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 3, showing more clearly certain portions of the mechanism for controlling the toe former;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the fluid-' pressure generating and controlling means and illustrating its relation to some of the fluid-operated mechanisms;

Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sectional views illustrating the relation of the toe end of the shoe to some of the parts which operate thereon as they appear at different times in the operation of the machine; and

Fig. 12 is a chart indicating the timing of the different operations performed by the machine.

In view of the disclosures in the previously mentioned Letters Patent and in others hereinafter mentioned, only as much of the machine is herein shown in detail as it is necessary to refer to for an understanding of the invention, and such parts as are common to the prior disclosures will be only briefly described. The character of the machine in general and the manner of its operation will first be briefly outlined. The shoe is positioned bottom upward for the operation of the machine thereon with the forepart of the insole in engagement with a shoe-positioning member 2 (Fig. 10) constructed as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,468,882, granted on May 3, 1949 on an application of mine. Against this member the shoe is clamped and held by a toe rest 4 and an instep support 6, a heel rest 8 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 being further provided for positions, and the single lines indicate the times engaging the heel-end face of the shoe to assistin holding it against lengthwise displacement. The machine has a plurality of grippers, one of which is shown at I'll in Fi 10, for gripping the margin of the upper in difierent locations about the toe end of the last and for applying a pull thereto in the toe-lasting operation. While the upper is held under tension by the grippers its toe-end portion is wiped heightwise of the last by upward movement of a toe former I2, as illustrated in Fig. 11, and while the upper is thereafter held by the toe former its margin is operated upon by upper-trimming means (not shown) to remove therefrom all but the outer layer of the upper materials, the grippers releasing the upper in the course of the upper-trimming operation. The machine further includes means to cause the toe former to release the upper after the uppertrimming operation and to repeat its upward wipe thereon and also to cause the grippers again to gripand pull the upper while acting only on the outer layer of the upper materials, as disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent No. 2,377,887 and in greater detail in Letters Patent No. 2,337,558, granted on December 28, 1943, on an application of mine. Prior to the second upward wipe of the toe former cement-applying means (not shown) applies cement to the toe end of the shoe, and after that upward wipe the margin of the outer layer of the upper is wiped inwardly over the insole into position to be secured to the insole by the cement by means of a pair of toe-embracing wipers H which are supported to move upwardly and downwardly with the toe former l2.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 and as disclosed in detail in Letters Patent No. 2,324,509, operating fluid, preferably light oil, is delivered by a continuously driven pump Hi from an open reservoir or sump l8 through a pipe 20 to a manifold 22 in which the fluid is maintained under pressure during a cycle of operations of the machine, the maximum pressure of the fluid being determined by a spring-controlled relief valve 24 which permits'excess fluid to return to the sump.

When the machine is not in operation an escape valve 26 permits the fluid to return freely from the manifold to the sump without developing any substantial pressure in the manifold. This valve is closed by a treadle (not shown) to cause the development of such fluid pressure, and simultaneously another valve is operated by the treadle to cause the closing of the grippers 0n the upper. If the upper is properly gripped, another depression of the treadle operates a valve 28 to admit fluid from the manifold to a cylinder 30 for rotating a control shaft 32 having thereon means (not shown) for controlling valves which admit fluid from the manifold at the proper times to various operating instrumentalities, thus causing the machine to perform a cycle of operations corresponding to one complete rotation of the control shaft. Preferably the means on the control shaft comprises a drum havin valve-controlling fingers thereon, as shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent No. 2,337,558. The timing of the various operations in the course of the cycle is indicated on the chart (Fig. 12). On this chart, as on a similar chart in the last-mentioned Letters Patent, the double lines indicate the times when the operating fluid is effective to operate the respective parts or to perform the operations designated, or to maintain the parts in operative when the pressure of the fluid thus acting is relieved. v

The toe rest 4 is supported on a. piston 34 (Fig. 3) vertically movable in a cylinder 36 towhich fluid is admitted through a pipe line 36 from the manifold 22 under control of a valve 40 (Fig. 9). The instep support 6 is mounted on a piston 42 movable in a cylinder 44, this piston being of smaller diameter than the piston 04 to cause the instep support to apply less pressure to the shoe than the toe rest. In earlier constructions the cylinders 36 and 44 have been in open communication with each other, so that the upward movements of the toe rest and the instep support took place simultaneously. In the construction herein shown the two cylinders are disconnected from each other, and the fluid is admitted to the cylinder 44 through a pipe line 46 under control of a valve 48. Moreover, as indicated on the chart, the timing is such that the fluid is admitted to the cylinder 36 to operate the toe rest before it is admitted to the cylinder 44 to operate the instep support, thus insuring that the toe rest will be effective to clamp the shoe against the member 2 before the instep support acts on the shoe. Better insurance is thus afforded against any displacement of the shoe by the instep support. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the heel rest is operated by cylinder-and-piston means 50 to which fluid is admitted through a pipe line 52 undercontrol of a valve 54, and as further indicated on the chart the timing is such that the heel rest is not moved into shoe-engaging position until after the operative movements of the toe rest and the instep support, thus guarding against any displacement of the shoe by the heel rest.

The wipers M are detachably secured respectively to a pair of wiper holders 56 (Figs. 1 and 3) which are mounted for swinging movements along guideways on a wiper carrier 56 about the axis of a pin 60 on the carrier to close the wipers inwardly over the shoe bottom widthwise of the shoe as the wiper carrier is operated to advance them lengthwise of the shoe. Such operative movement is imparted to the wiper carrier by a fluid-operated piston 62 movable in a cylinder 64 and connected to the carrier by a piston rod 66. The wiper-closing movements are imparted to the wiper holders 56 in response to the movement of r the wiper carrier 58 lengthwise of the shoe by mechanism not herein shown but fully disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,324,509. The wiper carrier 60 is supported on a casting 68 which, may be termed a wiper support and to which the cylinder 64 is secured, and this casting is supported on upper and lower pairs of parallel links I0 and M for upward and downward movements, only one of the lower pair of links 12 being visible in the drawings (Fig. 3). It is moved upwardly to carry the wipers I4 into positions for wiping the margin of the upper inwardly over the insole by fluid-pressure means not herein shown but constructed preferably as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,354,685, granted on August 1, 1944, on an application of mine, such upward movement of the wiper support being positively limited. The piston 62 is moved to operate the wipers by fluid admitted to the rear end of the cylinder 64 through a conduit 14 under control of a valve I6, and the wipers are retracted by fluid admitted to the front end of the cylinder through a conduit 18 under control of a valve 80. Portions of thetwo conduits I4 and," are flexible to'permit the upward and downward movements of the wiper support 68. Retractive movement of the wiper carrier 66 in response to the pressure of the fluid in the front end of the cylInder 64 is limited by engagement of a flange 62 on the piston rod 66 with a boss 64 on the wiper support 66.

As hereinafter described in detail, the toe former also is carried upwardly and downwardly with the wipers by the wiper support 66, and in order that the toe former may wipe the upper heightwise of the last in response to the upward movement of the support, the latter is so positioned initially that the wipers and the toe former are lower than the toe end of the shoe, as illustrated in Fig. 10. In order to avoid any objectionable interference between the wipers and the toe ends of shoes of some styles as the wipers are moved upwardly, the machine is provided with means such as shown in Letters Patent No. 2,377,887 for holding the wipers in abnormally retracted positions lengthwise of the shoe as they are moved upwardly and for releasing them near the end of their upward movement, whereupon they are moved a short distance toward the shoe into what may be termed their normal relation to the shoe. Asshown in Fig. 3, a rod 86 is vertically movable in a sleeve 88 fast in the wiper support 68 and is arranged to enter a recess 90 in the wiper carrier 56 and thus to engage a wear plate 92 on the wiper carrier to hold the carrier nearly at the limit of its retractive movement. The rod 66, which thus serves as a latch or detent, is controlled by a compression spring 94 mounted between a portion 96 of the frame of the machine and a collar 98 fast on a rod I00 extending downwardly from the rod 86. This spring, therefore,

moves the rod 86 upwardly into the recess 90 when the wiper carrier 58 has been fully retracted by the fluid admitted into the front end of the cylinder 64. Mounted on the lower end of the rod I00 is a nut I02 arranged to engage the frame 96 and thus to cause the rod 86 to be withdrawn from the recess 90 to release the wiper carrier 56 in response to the upward movement of the wiper support 68 near the end of that movement. It will be understood that by adjustment of the nut I02 the time of such release of the wiper carrier may be varied. When the wiper carrier is thus released it is moved a short distance forwardly to carry the wipers toward the shoe by a spring I04 (Fig. 1) mountedin a closed cylinder I06 which is fastened to the wiper support 68, the spring acting through a block I08 on a stud 0 which is threaded in the wiper carrier 58 and extends through slots (not shown) in the cylinder I06. The limit of such forward movement of the wiper carrier is determined by engagement of the block I06 with a pin II2 fast in the cylinder I06. It will be understood that the spring I04 is compressed by the last portion of the retractive movement of the wiper carrier to bring it into position to be held by the rod 86. Mounted also in the cylinder I06 is a spring II4 which acts through a block II6 as a buffer to control the stud H0 and thus to prevent the wiper carrier from being moved too far forwardly by the spring I04. When the wiper carrier 58 is thereafter moved farther forwardly by the piston 62 to operate the wipers the spring I I4 is compressed, and when the wiper carrier is retracted this spring expands until the block II 6 arrives in the position determined by the pin H2. The construction of this spring mechanism for thus controlling the wiper carrier is shown and described in greater detail in Letters Patent No. 2,324,509.

The toe former I2 in the construction herein shown consists of an upper-engaging metal band curved to extend about the toe end of the shoe and flaring outwardly in a downward direction to render its upper edge portion only effective in the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last, as illustrated in Fig. 11. For supporting the toe former there is provided a casting II8 (Figs. 3, 6 and 8) which rests on flat upper faces formed on the lower portions of the two wiper holders 56 and has forwardly extending flanges I20. The wiper holders may, therefore, move relatively to the casting in operating the wipers. Supported on the top of the casting II8 are two multiplearmed levers I22 (Figs. 6 and 7) which are mounted to swing about studs I24 threaded at their lower ends in the casting. Mounted on the tops of these levers and held in place by the studs I24 is a crossbar I26 on which the intermediate portion of the toe former I2 is supported, this portion of the toe former having a rearwardly extending lug I28 thereon which rests on the crossbar to insure that the toe former will thus be supported at all times regardless of its adjustment. Extending outwardly from the toe former in locations substantially midway between its front ends and its intermediate portion are lugs I30 in each of which is secured a downwardly extending pin I32. These lugs are arranged to rest on the tops of forwardly extending forked arms I34 of the levers I22 with the. pins I32 lying in slots I36 formed in the front ends of the upper forks of the arms. Flanges I38 formed on the lower ends of the pins are arranged to engage the lower faces of the upper forks of the arms to prevent the toe former from moving upward relatively to the arms. To hold the toe former detachably in place, there are provided latch members I40 portions of which are positioned between the forks of the arms I34, these members being mounted to swing about pins I42 either into positions to close the slots I36 and thus to hold the pins I32 in place in the slots or into positions to release the pins. It will be evident that when the latch members are thus in releasing positions the toe former may be re- .moved simply by sliding it forwardly. Springpressed pins I44 mounted in holes in the levers I22 are arranged to enter V-shaped notches I46 in the latch members I40 to hold them in operative positions, these pins being readily yieldable to permit the latch members to be swung into positions to release the toe former.

The levers I22 are further provided with arms I48 which extend inwardly toward each other and one of which has a curved end extending into a slot in the other to connect the two levers together for equal swinging movements about the studs I24. The levers are also provided with rearwardly extending arms I50 between which there is a block I52 (Figs. 3 and 6) secured on the top of the casting II6 by screws I54 (Fig. 8) extending upwardly from the lower face of the casting. Mounted in this block are a spring I56 and plungers I58 forced in outward directions by the spring and engaging the arms I50. It will thus be seen that the spring I56 tends to force the portions of the toe former at the side of the toe in inward directions and presses these por-- tions yieldingly a ainst the upper in the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last.

While it will be evident that the toe former may be readily replaced by one of a different shape for better conformity to a shoe of a substantially diiferent style or size, there is further provided means for preliminarily adjusting it for shoes of different widths. For this purpose a pin .I60 extending downward from an outwardly extending arm I62 of one of the levers I22 is engaged by the end face of a rod I64 threaded in a projection I66 on the casting II8. This rod is connected by a universal joint I68 to another rod I10 supported by a-bracket I12 (Fig. 1) on the front end portion of 'thewiper carrier 68 and having a knob I14 thereon for turning it. It will be evident that the rod I64 by. its engagement with the pin I60 limits the swinging movements of the levers I22 by the spring I56 and that in response to turning movements of the rod the portions of the toe former I2 at the sides of the toe are caused to approach or to recede from each other. The flexibility of the intermediate portion of the toe former readily permits such adjustment thereof. To increase the effectiveness of the toe former in wiping the upper heightwise of the last at the sides of the toe, theportions of it which act on the upper in these locations are rendered less flexible than its intermediate portion by ribs I16 formed thereon.

Extending upwardly from the crossbar I26 is a lug I18 (Figs. 3 and 7) which engages the lower faces of the wipers I4, and mounted on studs I (Figs. 1 and 6) which are fast in the front end portions of the wiper carrier 58 are rolls I82 engaging the upper faces of the forwardly extending flanges I20 of the casting H8. The lug I18 and the rolls I82 thus cooperate in preventing any tipping movement of the casting H8 and the toe former supported thereby.

Slidingly mounted in a bore I84 in the piston rod 66 is a member I86 in which is secured one end of a rod I88 of smaller diameter than the bore I84. Fast on the other end of this rod is a small lever I 80- which is positioned in a recess I92 in the casting H8 and is pivotally connected to the casting by a pin I94. Real-wardly extending bosses on the opposite ends of this lever are engaged by a plate I86 normally held yieldingly against the rear face of the casting II8 by two headed rods I88 and springs 200 on the rods. 'I'herod I88 is resiliently flexible and therefore permits the casting H8 and the toe former I2 to move bodily widthwise of a shoe in response to pressure of one side or the other of the toe end of the shoe on the toe former, thus permitting the toe former to adjust itself in this manner to the shoe. It will be understood that the will be understood that as the casting thus swings one or the other of the springs 200 yields to permit a separation between one end of the plate- I86 and the rear face of the casting. Since the axis of the pin I94 is at a substantial distance from the end of the toe, this adjusting movement of the toe former also is a bodily movement.

Supported on a flat face 202 (Fig. 8) on the casting H8 is a crossbar 204 pivotally mounted.

midway between its opposite ends on a pin 206 in the casting. One end of this crossbar is connected by a link 200 to the forked lower end of an arm 2I0 (Fig. 1) extending downwardly from a sleeve 2I2 fast on a rockshaft 2I4 mounted in bearings in the wiper support casting 68. The other end of the crossbar 204 is connected by a link 2I6 to the forked lower end of another arm 9 2 extending downwardly from the sleeve H2. The link 6 includes a rod 220 connected at its rear end to the arm 2l8,and threaded at its front end in an enlarged head 222 formed on another rod 224 which is supported in an opening formed in a projection 225 on the casting 8. A rounded end of the crossbar 204 extends into a recess between the head 222 and a. flange 226 on the rod 224. In the front endof this rod is a slot 228 for a screw driver, and it will be evident that by turning this rod the link "6 may be shortened or lengthened, thereby adjusting the casting H8 and the toe former in directions lengthwise of the shoe. The sleeve 2i 2 is controlled by a spring 230 the rear end of which is connected to the lower end of an arm 232 extending downwardly from the sleeve and the front end of which is connected to a screw 234 rotatable in a bearing in the casting G8 to adjust the tension of the spring. It will be evident that by the spring 230, acting through the links 208 and N6, the toe former is pressed against the shoe in a direction lengthwise thereof in the wipingof the upper heightwise of the last. To limit the movement of the toe former under the influence of the spring when there is no shoe in the machine, an arm 238 extends rearwardly from the sleeve 2B2 and carries a screw 238 (Fig. 3) arranged to engage a lug 248 on the casting 68.

In order to prevent the toe former i2 from engaging the shoe initially too far under the toe in operating on shoes of some styles, the machine towhich the invention is herein shown as applied has been provided heretofore with means for retracting the toe former lengthwise of the shoe by the retractive movement of the wiper carrier 58 near the end of that movement, as disclosed in Letters Patent N01 2,377,887. Accordingly, the toe former has been released to permit it to be moved toward the shoe by the spring 230 by the same rod 88 which releases the wiper carrier. It will be evident that under those condi ticns forward movement of the toe former into effective wiping engagement with the toe end of the upper takes place only as permitted by forward movement of the wiper carrier '58 and the piston 82. accompanied by the forcing of some of the fluid out of the front end of the cylinder 64. To afiord better insurance that the toe former will be moved into shoe-engaging position preclsely at the desired time in its upward movement, the construction herein shown is such that its forward movement is eflected independently of the corresponding movement of the wiper carrier ht without any possible retarding action thereon of the fluid in the cylinder 64. For controlling the toe former there is provided a cylinder Mt secured by a screw 244 to a lug 246 projecting from the cylinder 6i, and in the cylinder M2 is a piston Mt having a piston rod 250 extending upwardly therefrom through a bearing in the closed upper end of the cylinder. The lower end of the cylinder is in constant communication through a tube 252 with the front end of the cylinder t4, and accordingly when the wiper carrier 58 is retracted by the fluid in the cylinder $4 to the position in which it is held by the latch rod 88 the piston 248 also is moved upwardly. This causes the upper end of the piston rod 258 to engage a member 254 fast on the rear end of the previously mentioned arm 236 and to swing this arm upwardly to retract the toe former by'rearward movements of the links 208 and M6. The toe former, therefore, is retracted at the same time as the wiper carrier. 68 but independently of the movement of the wiper carrier. To hold the toe former in its retracted position there is pivotally mounted on a pin 256 in the wall of the cylinder 242 a'bell-crank lever 256 having an upwardly extending arm 260 formed to serve as a latch in engagement with a wear plate 262 on the arm 236. A spring-pressed pin 264 (Fig. 3) mounted in the wall of the cylinder 242 tends to swing the bell-crank lever 258 in a clockwise direction with reference to Fig. 3 and holds it normally against the wear plate 282. At the required time in the upward movement of the Wiper support 68 -a pin 266 on a rearwardly extending arm 268 of the bell-crank lever 258 is engaged by a cam-shaped member 210 to swing the bell-crank lever in the direction to release the arm 236, and upon such release of this arm the spring 230 acts instantly, as more fully hereinafter explained, to move the toe former forwardly into effective wiping engagement with the upper independently of any forward movement of the wiper carrier 58. The cam-shaped memher 210 is fast on a shaft 212 which is mounted to turn in a sleeve 214 (Fig. 1) secured in the frame 216 of the machine, this sleeve serving as a bearing for one of the previously mentioned links 10. Secured in a slot in one end of the shaft is an arm 218 (Figs. 1 and 2) by which the shaft may be turned to adjust the member 210 and thereby to vary the time in the upward movement of the toe former when it is released in response to the engagement of the member 210 with the pin 266. The arm 218 is provided with a pin 280 arranged to enter any one of a series of holes 282 formed in a plate 284 which is secured to the frame 216 to hold the member 210 in adjusted position. The arm is flexible to permit the pin to be withdrawn from any of the holes and has a knob 286 thereon for manipulating it.

Fast on the upper end of the piston rod 250 is a yoke 288 provided with a pin 290 which is positioned over the member 264 on the arm 236. Connected to an arm 292 extending forwardly from this yoke and to a pin 294 on the lower end of the cylinder 242 is a spring 286 which tends to move the piston 248 downwardly in the cylinder. When the pressure in the front end of the cylinder 64 is terminated by movement of the valve (Fig. 9) to exhaust position, the simultaneous termination of the pressure in the lower end of the cylinder 242 results in downward movement of the piston 248 by the spring 296 as far as permitted by engagement of the pin 290 with the member 254. As disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,377,887, it is desirable to increase the pressure of the toe former on the upper when the toe former is at the limit of its upward movement, in order to hold the upper more firmly adjacent to the edge of the shoe bottom at the time when its margin is trimmed and later at the time when it is wiped inwardly over the insole by the wipers I4. In the construction herein shown such increase of pressure of the toe former on the upper is effected by fluid admitted to the upper end of the cylinder 242 through a tube 298 under control of a valve 300 (Fig. 9). It will be understood that the downward force thus applied to the piston 248 acts through the pin 290 on the member 254 and the arm 236 to urge the links 208 and M6 controlling the toe former in a forward direction.

In view of. the disclosure in Letters Patent No. 2,377,887, the cycle of operations need not be described in full, but only with respect to such 11 operations as are of special interest with reference to the present invention. The timing of the movements of the toe rest, the instep support and the heel rest into operative positions already been explained.

At the beginning of the cycle the wiper carrier 58 may be in its retracted position where it is held by the latch rod 86, as shown in Fig. 3. Ordinarily, however, for a reason hereinafterexplained, the toe former 12 is not at this time in its retracted position, but in its most advanced position determined by engagement of the screw 238 with the lug 240. As indicated by that portion of the chart designated Wipers Out,"v the valve 80 (Fig. 9) is initially in position to afford communication between the manifold 22 and the front end of the cylinder 64. and accordingly when pressure is developed in the manifold in response to the closing of the valve 26 by the treadle, the

pressure becomes immediately effective in the front end of the cylinder 64 and the lower end of the cylinder 242. Since the wiper carrier is already in its retracted position, the pressure thus applied to the piston 62 is of no importance, but the pressure in the lower end of the cylinder 242 raises the piston 248 and thereby causes the piston rod 250 to swing the arm 236 upwardly to retract the toe former from its full-line position in Fig. 10 to its broken-line position, the toe former being then held retracted by the action of the latch arm 260 on the arm 236. .At about of the cycle the valve is moved to its ex-.

ment of the member 210 engagement of this member with the pin 266 causes the latch arm 260 to release the arm 236,- whereupon the spring 230 acts instantly to move the toe former forwardly into position for effectively wiping the upper heightwise of the last, as illustrated in Fig. 11. Such instantaneous movement of the toe former is permitted by the fact that the upper end of the piston rod 250 is spaced at that time from the member 254 on the arm 236. It will be understood that such forward movement of the toe former is normally stopped by the shoe before the screw 238 engages the lug 240. During the remainder of the upward movement of the toe former it wipes the upper, still held by the grippers, .heightwise of the last to the edge of the insole, and substantially at the end of that movement the wiper carrier 58 is released by the latch rod 86. and is advanced to its normal position by the spring I04. It will be understood that when the arm 236 is released as above described by the latch arm 260, such downward movement as the arm 236 receives is accompanied by downward movement of the piston 248 under the influence of the spring, 286-as far as'permitted by the engagement of the pin 280 with the member 254. At about 70 of the cycle the valve 300 admits fluid to the upper end of the cylinder 242 to apply downwardly directed force to the piston 248 and thus to cause the piston to act through the pin 290, the arm 236 and the links 208 and 2l6 to force the toe former more firmly against the upper adjacent to the edge of the insole. While the toe former holds the upper with this increased pressure the margin of the upper is trimmed to remove therefrom all but the outer layer of the upper materials, as hereinbefore explained, the grippers releasing the upper as the trimming takes place.

At about of the cycle the valve 300 terminates the pressure in the upper end of the cylinder 242, and shortly thereafter fluid is again admitted by the valve 80 to the front end of the cylinder 64 and the lower end of the cylinder 242. This causes the piston 62 to retract the wiper carrier 58 and the piston 248 to swing the arm 236 upwardly and retract the toe former. At about fluid is released from the fluid-'- pressure means for raising the wipers and the toe former, whereupon they move downwardly, the rod 86 and the latch-arm 260 moving into positions to hold the wiper carrier and the toe former retracted. Thereafter the grippers again grip and pull the upper, and at about 210of the cycle the pressure in the front end of the cylinder 64 and the lower end of the cylinder 242 is terminated. At about 220 the pressure again becomes effective to raise the wiper support 68 and thus to cause the toe former to repeat its upwiping action on the upper, its release by the latch arm 260 and the release of the wiper carrier by the rod 86 taking place at the same relative times as before. At about 230 pressure again becomes effective on the top of the piston 248 to force the toe former more firmly against the upper, and at about 245 fluid is admitted to the rear end of the'cylinder 64 to move the wipers inwardly and thus to wipe the margin of the upper over the insole. At about 270 release of the fluid from the fluid-pressure means for raisingthe wipers and the toe former permits the wipers to increase their downward pressure on the overwiped margin of the upper, and at 300 the machine comes to a stop with the wipers in holding relation to the overwiped margin.

After the machine is again started the parts are returned in the proper order to starting positions. It will be. noted that first the instep support, then the heel rest and thereafterthe toe rest are withdrawn from the shoe with the object of avoiding displacement ofthe shoe by the pressure of any of these parts thereon. Immediately upon such, starting of the machine fluid is admitted to the means for raising the wipers and the toe former to insure against undue drag of the wipers on the upper when they are retracted. At about 330 of the cycle the pressure in the upper end of the cylinder 242 is relieved and at about 340 fluid is admitted to the front end of the cylinder 64 to retract the wiper carrier 58. Simultaneously the piston 248 is moved upwardly to retract the toe former. It will be evident, however, that the latch arm 260 will not swing into position to hold the toe former unless the wiper support 68 is moved downwardly far enough to permit such swinging movement of the armwhile thetoe former is still fully retracted. Since it is desirable to hold the wiper support fully upraised until as near the end of the cycle as possible, to insure against any interference between the wipers and the shoe when the wipers are moved downwardly, the wiper support is not permitted to move downwardly until just before the pressure in the manifold is automatically terminated at the end of the cycle. Ordinarily, therefore, the latch arm 260 will not be released by the member 210 and returned by the spring-pressed pin 264 before the arm -236 13 has started to swing downwardly by reason of the termination 01' the pressure below the piston 248. It is for this reason that this piston is moved upwardly to retract the toe former and to cause it to be held by the latch arm 28!! at the beginning of the cycle, as hereinbeiore explained. The latch rod 08, however, may act in time to hold the wiper carrier before it is returned by the spring I04. I! not, the wiper carrier'will be retracted and held when the toe former is retracted at the beginning of the next cycle.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means tor efiecting relative movement or the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last until near the end of said relative movement and for then releasin them, means for moving the wipers lengthwise of the last toward the toe upon such release thereof, another device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last independently of'the wipers during a portion ofsaid relative movement and for then releasing it, and means unaffected by the positions of the wipers for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last into effective wiping engagement with the upper upon such release thereof.

2. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last until near the end of said relative movement and for then releasing them in response to that move- .ment, spring means for moving the wipers lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released, another device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers during a portion of said relative movement and for then releasing it in response to that movement, and additional spring means unaffected by the positions of the wipers for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last into effective wiping engagement with the upper when it is thus released.

3. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for efi'ecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last until near the end of said relative movement and for then releasing them, spring means for moving the wipers lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released, another device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers during a portion of said relative movement and for then releasing itadditional spring means unaffected by the positions of the wipers for moving the toe former 14 lengthwise of the last into effective wiping engagement with the upper when it is thus released, and means for adjustably varying the time of such release of the toe former independently of the time of the release of the wipers.

4. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end 01' an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise or the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last, another device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers, means to cause said devices to release the wipers and the toe former respectively at different times after the beginning of said relative movement, and means for moving the wipers and the toe former respectively at different times lengthwise of the last toward the toe upon such release thereof.

5. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the ma gin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last, another device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last independently of the Wipers, means responsive to said relative movement to cause said other device to release the toe former and said first-named device thereafter to release the wipers; and spring means for moving first the toe former and thereafter the wipers lengthwise of the last toward the toe in response to such release thereof.

6. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last, another device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers, means to cause said devices to release the wipers and the toe former respectively at different times in response to said relative movement, spring means for moving the wipers and the toe former respectively at different times lengthwise of the last toward the toe upon such release thereof, and means for adjustably varying independently the times when the wipers and the toe former are thus released.

7. In a lasting machine, wipers for Wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, a support common to said wipers and toe former and movable to carry them heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device carried by said support for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last, another device carried by said support for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers, means for controlling said devices independently of each other to cause them to release the wipers and the toe former respectively in response ,to the movement of said support, and means for moving the wipers I and the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe upon such release thereof.

8. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise ofthe last, a support common to said wipers and toe former and movable to carry them heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device carried by said support for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last, means to cause said device to release the wipers near the end of the movement of said support, spring means for moving the wipers lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released, another device carried by said support for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last, means to cause said other device to release the toe former at a predetermined time in the movement of the support before the wipers are released, and additional spring means for moving the toe former lengthwise of thelast into eflective wiping engagement with the upper when it is thus released.

9. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, a support common to said wipers and toe former and movable to carry them heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a device carried by said support for holding the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last, means to cause said device to release the wipers substantially at the end of the movement of said support in response to that movement, spring means for moving the wipers lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released, another device carried by said support for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last, means to cause said other device to release the toe former in response to the movement of the support at a variably predetermined time before the wipers are released, and additional spring means for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe when it is thus released.

10. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for efiecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a wiper carrier supporting said wipers 'and movable with them lengthwise of the last, a cylinder-and-piston device connected to said wiper carrier for moving it by fluid pressure in opposite directions to operate and to retract the wipers respectively, a retaining device for holding the wiper carrier and wipers retracted lengthwise of the last until near the end of said relative movement and for then releasing them, springmeans for moving them lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released, another retaining device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last during a portion of said relative movement and for then releasing it, and additional spring means unaffected by the position of the wiper carrier for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last into effective wiping engagement with the upper upon such release thereof.

11. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, a support common to said wipers and toe former and movable to carry them heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act-on the upper, a wiper carrier on said support movable with the wipers lengthwise of the last, a cylinder-and-piston device connected to said wiper carrier for moving it by fluid pressure in opposite directions to operate and to retract the wipers respectively, a retaining device for holding the" wiper carrier and wipers retracted lengthwise oi the last until near the end of the movement of said support and for then releasing them in response to that movement, spring means for moving them lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released, another retaining device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last during a portion of the movement of said support and for then releasing it in response to that movement, and additional spring means unafiected by the position of the wiper carrier for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe when it is thus released.

12. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping themargin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, a support common to said wipers and toe former and movable to carry them heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a wiper carrier on said support movable with the wipers lengthwise of the last, a cylinderand-piston device connected to said wiper carrier for moving it by fluid pressure in opposite directions to operate and to retract the wipers respectively, retaining devices carried by said support for holding the wiper carrier and the toe former respectively in retracted positions lengthwise of the last, means to cause one of said retaining devices to release the toe former at a predetermined time in the movement of said support and the other retaining device to release the wiper carrier after such release of the toe former, and spring means for moving first the toe former and thereafter the wiper carrier lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released.

13. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for efiecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a wiper carrier supporting said wipers and movable .with them lengthwise of the last, a double-acting piston connected to said wiper carrier for moving it by fluid pressure in opposite directions to operate and to retract the wipers respectively, said piston being movable with the wiper carrier in both directions lengthwise of the last, a device, for holding the wiper carrier and wipers retracted lengthwise of the last until near the endof said relative movement and for then releasing them, spring means for moving them with said piston lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released, another device for holding the toe former retracted lengthwise of the last during a portion of said relative movement and for then releasing it before the wiper carrier is released, and additional spring means unaffected by 17 the position of the wiper carrier for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe independently of the wiper carrier upon-such release thereof.

14. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a wiper carrier supporting said wipers and movable with them lengthwise of the last, means for retracting said wiper carrier and the toe former lengthwise of the last independently of each other, devices associated respectively with the wiper carrier and the toe former for holding them thusretracted, means to cause said devices to release the wiper carrier and the toe former in predetermined time relation to each other after the beginning of said relative movement, and means for moving the wiper carrier and the toe former independently of each other lengthwise of the last toward the toe upon such release thereof.

15. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on'a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a wiper carrier supporting said wipers and movable with them lengthwise of the last, means for retracting said wiper carrier and the toe former lengthwise of the last independently of each other, devices associated respectively with the wiper carrier and the toe former for holding them thus retracted, means to cause one of said devices to release the wiper carrier substantially at the end of said relative movement and the other device to release the toe former at a predetermined time in said relative movement before the wiper carrier is thus released, and means for moving the wiper carrier and the toe former respectively at different times lengthwise of the last toward the toe upon such release thereof.

16. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for eifecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a wiper carrier supporting said wipers and movable with them lengthwise of the last, a cylinder-and-piston device connected to said wiper carrier for moving it by fluid pressure in opposite directions to operate and to retract the'wipers respectively, a retaining device for holding the wiper carrier and the wipers retracted lengthwise of the last until near the end of said relative movement and for then releasing them, spring means for moving them lengthwise of the last toward the toe when they are thus released, another cylinder-and-piston device for retracting the toe former lengthwise of the last independently of the wiper carrier, another retaining device for holding the toe former thus retracted during a portion of said relative movement and for then releasing it before the wiper carrier is released, and additional spring means unafiected by the position of the wiper carrier for moving the toe former lengthwise o! the last toward the toe independently of its cylinder-and-piston device when it is thus released.

17. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe and of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe'former in a direction heightwise oi the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, means for retracting the toe former lengthwise oi the last independently of the wipers, a device for holding the toe former thus retracted and for releasing it at a predetermined time in said relative movement, and means for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe independently of the wipers when it is thus released.

18. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of. the last, means for eifecting relative movement of of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, means for retracting the toe former lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers, a latch for holding the toe former thus retracted, means to cause said latch to release the toe former at a predetermined time in said relative movement in response to that movement, and spring means for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe independently of the wipers when it is thus released.

19. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end 01' the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a dirction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a cylinder-andpiston device for retracting the toe former lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers by fluid pressure, a retaining device for holding the toe former thus retracted and for releasing it at a predetermined time in said relative movement, and means for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe independently of said cylinder-and-piston device when it is thus released.

20. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, a double-acting cylinder-and-plston device for retracting the toe former lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers, a retaining device for holding the toe former thus retracted and for releasing it at a predetermined time in said relative movement, spring means for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe independently of said cylinderand-piston device when it is thus released, and means for thereafter pressing the toe former more forcibly against the upper by reverse action of said cylinder-and-piston device.

21. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of the toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a toe former for wiping the toe end of the upper heightwise of the last, means for effecting relative movement of the last and the combined wipers and toe former in a direction heightwise of the last to cause the toe former thus to act on the upper, an arm mounted for swinging movement and connected to said toe former, a double-acting cylinder-and-piston device for retracting the toe former lengthwise of the last independently of the wipers byv movement of said arm, a latch arranged to act on said arm to hold the toe former thus retracted, means to cause said latch to release the toe former at a predetermined time in said relative movement, spring means for moving the toe former lengthwise of the last toward the toe independently of said cyllnder-and-piston device when it is thus released, and means arranged to operate on said arm in response to reverse action of said cylinder-and-piston device to press the toe former more forcibly against the upper.

22. In a lasting machine, a flexible former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a pair of arms mounted for swinging movements toward or from each other about axes extending heightwise of the last and arranged to act respectively on portions of said former located at the opposite sides of the last, said arms being connected together for equal movements about their axes in response to force applied thereto through said former, and spring means arranged to act on said arms to press the portions of said former at the sides of the last inwardly against the upper.

23. In a lasting machine, a flexible former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a pair of multiple-armed levers mounted for swinging movements about' axes extending heightwise of the last, said levers having arms. arranged to extend lengthwise of the last and to act respectively on portions of said former at the opposite sides of the last and having other arms extending toward each other and connected together for equal movements about said axes, and spring means arranged to act on still other arms of said levers to cause said first-named arms to press the portions of said former at the sides of the last inwardly against the upper.

24. In a lasting machine, a flexible former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, and a pair of spring-controlled levers mounted for swinging movements widthwise of the last about axes extending heightwise of the last and connected respectively to portions of said former at the opposite sides of the last to press the former inwardly against the upper, said levers being supported to move bodily with the former in directions widthwise of the last and thus to permit the former to adjust itself to the last in response to pressure of the upper thereon.

25. In a lasting machine, a flexible former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a pair of springcontrolled levers mounted for swinging movements about axes extending heightwise of the last and connected respectively to portions of said former at the opposite sides of the last to press the former inwardly against the upper, means supporting said levers to move bodily with the former in directions widthwise of the last to permit the former thus to adjust itself to the last in response to pressure of the upper thereon, and a member supported on said levers and arranged said member serving as a support for the intermediate portion of the former.

26. In a lasting machine, a flexible former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a pair of levers mounted for swinging movements about axes extending heightwise of the last, spring-means arranged to act on said levers to press the portions of said former at the sides of the last inwardly against the upper, a support for said levers mounted to move bodily with them and the former in directions widthwise of the last and thus to permit the former to adjust itself to the last, and spring means for yieldingly opposing such movements of said support.

2'7. In a lasting machine, a flexible former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a pair of levers mounted for swinging movements about axes extending heightwise of the last, spring means arranged to act on said levers to press the portions of said former at the sides of the last inwardly against the upper, a support for said levers mounted to move bodily with them and the former in directions widthwise of the last and thus to permit the former to adjust itself to the last, and an elongated resiliently flexible member extending lengthwise of the last from said support and yieldable laterally in response to such movements of the support.

28. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a pair of levers mounted for swinging movements about axes extending heightwise of the last, spring means arranged to act on said levers to press the portions of the former at the sides of the last inwardly against the upper, a-support for said levers mounted to move bodily with them and the former in directions widthwise of the last and thus to permit the former to adjust itself to the last, said support being also movable with the levers about an axis extending heightwise of the last to permit the former further to adjust itselt to the last, and spring means for yieldingly opposing all such movements of said support.

29. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a pair of levers mounted for swinging movements about axes extending heightwise of the last, spring means arranged to act on said levers to press the portions of the former at the sides of the last inwardly against the upper, a support for said levers mounted to move bodily with them and the former in directions widthwise of the last to permit the former thus to adjust itself to the last, and a resiliently flexible rod extending lengthwise of the last from said support and yieldable laterally in response to such movements of the support, the supp being also movable relatively to said rod about an axis extending heightwise of the last to permit the former further to adjust itself to the last.

30. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last and mounted to move bodily in directions widthwise of the last to permit it thus to adjust itself to the last in'response to pressure of the upper thereon, and an elongated resiliently flexible member yieldable laterally in response to such movements of the former, said member normally centralizing the former with respect to such movements.

31. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, means supporting said former as a whole and mounted to move bodily with it in directions widewise of the last to permit the former thus to adjust itself bodily to the last, and a resiliently flexible rod extending lengthwise of the last from said supporting means and yieldable laterally in response to such movements of the supporting means, said rod normally centralizing the supporting means with respect to such movements.

32. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last and mounted to move bodily in directions widthwise of the last to permit it thus to adjust itself to the last in response to pressure of the upper thereon, and an elongated resiliently flexible member yieldable laterally in response to such movements of the former and arranged normally to centralize it with respect to such movements, the former being also movable relatively to said member about an axis extending heightwise of the last to permit it further to adjust itself to the last.

33. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, means supporting said former as a whole and mounted to move bodily with it in directions widthwise of the last to permit the former thus to adjustv itself bodily to the last, and a resiliently flexible rod extending lengthwise of the last from said supporting means and yieldable laterally in response to such movements of the supporting means, said supporting means being also movable with the former relatively to said rod about an axis extending heightwise of the last to permit the former further to adjust itself to the last.

34. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, said former being mounted to move bodily in directions widthwise of the last' to permit it thus to adjust itself to the last and also to move about an axis extending heightwise of the last to permit it further to adjust itself to the last, and spring means for yieldingly opposing all such movements of said former.

35. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, means supporting said former as a whole and mounted to move bodily with it in directions widthwise of the last to permit the former thus to adjust itself to the last, said supporting means being also movable with the former about an axis extending heightwise of the last to permit the former further to adjust itself to the last, and spring means for yieldingly opposing all such movements of said supporting means.

36. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a support for said former mounted to move bodily with it in directions widthwise of the last to permit the former thus to adjust itself to the last, a resiliently flexible rod extending lengthwise of the last from said support and yieldable laterally in response to such movements of the support, the support being pivotally connected to said rod to move with the former relatively to the rod about an axis extending heightwise of the last and thus to permit the former further to adjust itself to the last, and spring means for yieldingly opposing movements of the support about said axis.

37. In a lasting machine. a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a support for said former.

the former and its support being mounted to swing as a unit about an axis extending heightwise of the last to permit the former thus to adjust itself to the last in response to pressure of the upper thereon and also to move bodily with said axis in directions widthwise of the last to permit the former further to adjust itself to the last.

38. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, a support for said former, the former and its support being mounted to swing as a unit about an axis extending heightwise of the last and located opposite the end face of the last at a distance from said face to permit the former thus to adjust itself to the lastin response to pressure of the upper thereon and also to move bodily with said axis in directions widthwise of the last to permit the former further to adjust itself to the last.

39. In a lasting machine, a former constructed and arranged to embrace an upper around an end portion of a last, said former being mounted to swing about an axis extending heightwise of the last to permit it thus to adjust itself to the last in response to pressure of the upper thereon and also to move bodily with said axis in directions widthwise of the last to permit it further to adjust itself to the last, and spring means for yieldingly opposing all such movements of said former and for normally centralizing it with respect to such movements.

40. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of an upper about an end of a last inwardly over an insole on the last, wiper holders supporting said wipers and movable thus to operate them, a former constructed and arranged to embrace th upper around the end of the last, and a support for said former slidingly mounted on portions of said wiper holders to move with the former relatively to said holders in directions lengthwise and widthwise of the last.

41. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the margin of an upper about an end of a lastv inwardly over an insole on the last, wiper holders supporting said wipers and movable thus to operate them, a former constructed and arranged to embrace the upper around the end of the last, a support for said former slidingly mounted on portions of said wiper holders to move with the former in directions widthwise of the last and thus to permit the former to adjust itself to the last, and yieldable means against the resistance of which said support is thus movable,

42. In a lasting machine, the combination with lasting means, of a toe rest for engaging a shoe at the top of the forepart to control it in the lasting operation, an instep support for engaging the instep portion of the shoe or last further to control the shoe, a heel rest for engaging the heel end face of the shoe, and automatic means for moving first the toe rest, then the instep support and thereafter the heel rest into operative positions.

43. In a lasting machine, the combination with lasting means, of a toe rest for engaging a shoe at the top of the forepart to control it in the lasting operation, an instep support for engaging the instep portion of the shoe or last further to control the shoe, a heel rest for engaging the heel end face of the shoe, oylinder-and-plston devices associated respectively with the toe rest, the instep support and the heel rest for moving them to operative positions, and automatic means for admitting operating fluid to said devices at such times as to operate first the toe rest, then the instep support and thereafter the heel rest.

BERNHARDT J ORGENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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